This document describes the "Museum of Matches" in Portugal, which contains the largest collection of matchboxes in Europe with over 40,000 items donated by collector Aquiles da Mota Lima. The museum displays matchboxes from over 127 countries organized into rooms by region, showcasing the history and culture represented through unique designs and symbols on the matchboxes. It provides visitors a unique way to learn about different places around the world through the visual stories told on the decorative matchboxes.

1. Trabalho realizado por:
André Costa nº10410
Olesya Nezhdanova nº10425
3º Ano Curso de Gestão Turística e Cultural
“Museu dos Fósforos”

2.  This curious and remarkable collection was donated to the
council in 1980 by he philluminist Aquiles da Mota Lima. This is
the biggest collection of matches in Europe, whith over 40.000
matchboxes, books of matches and labels. It provides a singular
description of universal history and culture.
 The story of the museum starts when Mr.Aquiles travels to
England to watch the coronation of the Queen of England, and
for fun decided to start collecting matchboxes and labels.
 The museum was donated to the city hall in 1984, after
Mr.Aquiles died , is daughter is now in charge of the
museum, although it is property of The City Hall.

3.  In this first room we can see a label machine. It was
used to put labels in matchboxes. In this room we can
also see the biggest matchbox in the museum.
 All matchboxes have matches, although they can not
be lighted due to their old age. In the museum we can
also see all that is related to matches, matchboxes and
labels, like an (apron) made of matchboxes called
bedspread of matches. We can also see in the room a
thematic exhibitor, that mentions special days and
special times of the year. We can find in the museum
matchboxes from 127 different countries. It is the only
known museum of this kind in Portugal.

4.  In this room, you can admire some beautiful matchboxes
from exotic countries, like Japan, Mexico and from Africa.
 Each box represents their country, showing us pictures or
elements that are symbols of the country. For example, the
Japanese ones are decorated with flowers, with a 3d
effect, representing the beauty and exuberance of the
country.
 On the other side of the room, you can see two different
types of matchboxes, big and small ones. The big ones are
very curious because of theirs strange formats and pictures.
 In the window together to the wall, are the smallest
matchboxes in this museum. These cute ones are from
Romania and from Prague, brought by Madame Maria
Helena Mota Lima while she was in those countries in a
visit.

5.  In this room, you can see and admire matchboxes from different countries such as
Italy, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland, South Africa, etc.
 Beginning on the left side we find matchboxes from Italy showing Italian painters
traditional costumes, Italian monuments or important people from the country.
 Next to Italy you can admire some matchboxes representing different landscapes. Then
there are matchboxes from the Czech-Republic and Slovakia, some also showing
landscapes and others representing different kinds of animals.
 Then comes Sweden with some matchboxes decorated with important Swedish people
and others with family crests.
 The next matchboxes come from Norway and represent typical houses. Then, we find
other showcase with Swedish matchboxes decorated with boats and monuments.
 Finland comes afterwards. Its matchboxes represent cars, military
uniforms, flags, boats, palaces and fishes.
 In the next showcase you can find some Polish matchboxes, decorated with typical
houses and various themes. The Ex-Yugoslavia (actually Serbia and Montenegro)
showcase is a big one and shows matchboxes representing animals and typical costumes.
In the same showcase there are a few matchboxes from Montenegro and Croatia.
 On the back side of the same window you can admire matchboxes from
Australia, Indonesia, Filipinas, Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt. Then you can
admire more matchboxes from Czech Republic decorated with ancient planes, typical
houses and some representing the Olympic Games of 1962.
 Finally, in the middle of the room, on the left side there is another window with
matchboxes from Denmark, representing paintings, important people and coins; on the
back side of it some matchboxes of Australia. These ones with pictures of animals, flags
and family crests.

6.  Here we can find matchboxes from former the Soviet Union, Russia, the
United Kingdom, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. On the right side of
the room you can see matchboxes from former Soviet Union, which have
labels with very famous Russian personalities and remarkable
constructions. On this side (pointing) there are the British boxes. They
show funny games that can be played with matches. And some of the
British matchboxes can even give you a piece of advice. For example, this
one (point to one box) says, “The shortest way to do many things is to do
only one thing at the time”. Or you can see an interesting advertising
slogan like, “Frozen food-the best you ever thaw”, which can quietly give
a due about lifestyle during a specific period.
 On this side of the room we can see matchboxes from Switzerland and
Austria. This one was brought here by Ms.Maria Helena Lima, daughter
of ex-owner of this collection, directly from the Shönbrunn Palace of
Vienna. And we cannot ignore this selection of German boxes, which are
more recent and rather expensive pieces. We can admire on its labels
famous paintings of Gustav Klimt, who was a controversial figure in his
time (1862-1918). His work was constantly criticized for being too sensual
and erotic, and his symbolism too deviant. Today, they stand out as the
more important paintings ever to come out of Vienna. And we can enjoy
them here.

7.  In this room we can find all kind of matchboxes that are related to
Holland, France, Belgium and Germany.
 In the Dutch part we can see a collection of matchboxes that
provide information about famous people from Holland. As we
can see the famous mills, that are one of the most known symbols
beside the tulips, we can see a boat collection, animals and they
have a part that talks about the Olympics games and, of course, of
Pierre de Coubertin that was the person that developed the
Olympics Games in the 20th century.
 In the French part we can see collections that refer to food,
movies, México 68, paintings, matchboxes that talk about the day
of the woman and of course a collection about the French
Revolution
 In this room we can also find a collection about Ancient Germany,
and by looking at o the boxes that we can see the Federal Republic
was stronger and richer that is the Democratic Federal, - the
matchbox material is weaker.

8.  Here in this room we have only Spanish matchboxes
and labels. On the right side of this division there are
exposed more ancient boxes, which are dated from the
period of the Spanish Civilian War (1836-1839) and
show us Spanish royal coats of arms.
 Most of the Spanish matchboxes exhibit bullfights, as
we can observe. And we can learn about Spanish
traditions without going there, because this pictures
show us the way Spanish people dressed, some of their
customs and famous buildings.
 We also can see puzzles of matchboxes which stimulate
the will of collecting matchboxes.

9.  This is the last but also the biggest room in the museum. In the past, the smallest
matchboxes were here, but unfortunately, they tended to be stolen. In this room, you
can only see complete collections of matchboxes from Portugal
 On the right side, there is an interesting window with logos of some Portuguese
cities. Also on this side, you can admire the magnificence of some artisanal
matchboxes, made by some specialists. This type of boxes, do not here much value for
the philominists, because they are hand made purpose. Also on this side of the room,
we can see some caricatures of sports players and some cars of the 1960s.
 On the left side of this room, in the first window, you can see matchboxes
representing arms and, at the bottom, some made with exportation in mind.
 In the next showcase, you can admire matchboxes with pictures of very important
Portuguese personalities. Then comes a few matchboxes with advertisings and, more
important than these, are the ones representing Portuguese tiles.
 In the middle of the room, there are two showcases: the first one with matchboxes
celebrating the Portuguese Discoveries, others representing coins, cars, etc. On the
back side, some Portuguese castles and some caricatures of movies stars from around
the world are represented on the matchboxes.
 On the second showcase, there are matchboxes representing Portuguese values and
caravels, as well as important Portuguese navigators. In the same showcase, but on
the backside, we find many interesting matchboxes with different elements, such as:
typical Portuguese costumes (including the ones from the former-colonies) and
monuments.